Fiber-board shipping case



Dec. 31, 1929. H. B. WALTER 1,741,214

FIBERBOARD SHIPPING CASE Filed July v29. 1927 4 Sheets-Shae? l jfafpomj ZuaA/xa, imam f x ##54 Dgc. 31, 1929. H. a. WALTER 1,741,214

FIBERBOARD SHIPPING CASE I Filed July 29. 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec. 31, 1929. H. B wALTER 1,741,214

FIBERBOARD SHIPPING 055;:

Filed July 29. 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Dec. 31, 1929. H. B. WALTER 1,741,214

FIBERBOARD SHIPPING CASE Filed July 29. 1927 4 Sheets-Shed 4 Patented Dec. 31, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HARRISON B. WALTER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR T0 CONTAINER CORPORA- TION OF AMERICA, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE FIBER-BOARD SHIPPING CASE Application filed July 29,

This invention relates to novel improvements in fiberboard shipping cases and parts thereof and consists of the matters hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

The invention relates especially to shipping cases designed for shipping cirtus fruit and the like, such as oranges, lemons, grapefruit. Fruit of the kind is at present largely shipped in wood boxes which are 12 by 12 inches in vertical section and which are divided horizontally into two equal compartments 12 inches long so that the box includes two end panelsand an intermediate dividing panel each 12 by 12 inches composed of a comparatively heavy square wood frame covered by a sheet of wood veneer. This wood veneer is comparatively thin (about of an inch) and it is with great difliculty applied in building up the box because of its tendency to split. Vith a small piece of veneer of the size used (12 by 12 inches) no matter which way the grain runs, the piece warps and cracks with the result that the interior surface of the box presented by this sheet of veneer is uneven and is apt to damage the fruit. In ad dition, the supply of such material is failing and approaching a prohibitive cost.

The object of my invention is to produce a box of the kind with the parts so arranged and constructed that fiberboard may be efiicicntly and successfully used instead of the veneer and with the parts so arranged, constructed and correlated that fiberboard may be substituted for the end and intermediate panels only, for the top only, for the top and end panels only, or the entire box, including the body, top or lid, and panels may be made of fiberboard.

The advantages of the invention will appear more fully as I proceed with my specification.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a perspectiveview representing the ordinary wooden box as it appears when packed with citrus fruit ready for shipment. Figure 2 is a view representing a section through one panel of such box.

Figure 3 is a view representing the heavy wood frame and a fiber sheet ready for assem- 1927. Serial No. 209,224.

bly to form one of the improved fiberboard end panels for a fruit box.

Figure 4; represents a perspective view of an end panel with the fiberboard and frame assen'lbled and attached together.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary vertical section through the panel in a plane indicated by the line 5-5 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of mediate panel made of fiberboard.

Figure 7 is a perspective view of the blank from which said intermediate panel is made.

Figure 8 is a perspective view of a slightly modified form of the intermediate panel made of fiberboard.

Figure 9 is a view representing a longitudinal section through the ordinary wooden fruit box with my improved end and intermediate panels used instead of the ordinary wood panels.

Figure 10 is a perspective View of a blank 01 use in making a fiberboard lid for a fruit Figure 11 is a perspective view of the fiberboard lid when ready for application.

Figure 12 is a perspective view of a box having the ordinary wooden sides packed with fruit but including my improved fiberboard end and intermediate panels and fiberboard lid or cover.

Figure 13 is a transverse section through the box shown in Figure 12.

Figure 14 is a longitudinal section through the same.

Figure 15 is a perspective view of a fiberboard blank for use in making the sides and bottom of the improved fruit box.

Figure 16 is a perspective view of the aforesaid blank with reinforcing and strengthening wood cleats which are used in the improved fiberboard box body.

Figure 17 is a perspective view of the improved fiberboard box body as it appears when set up in box form.

Figure 18 is an end view of the fiberboard box body illustrating the same as it appears when collapsed ready for shipment.

F igure 19 is a perspective View of the improved fiberboard fruit box as it appears when an interimproved fiberboard members.

' veneer box packed with some such citrus grapefruit. The fruit fruitas oranges or p g body 21 and is 'so filled is packed in the box that the level of the ably above the top edges 22 of the box. Pressure is then applied and the 11d 23 1s nailed" downagainst the tops of the end intermediate panel panels '24. As illustrated in that view, the

fruit appears in :the gaps 25. If the fruit, -does not thus appear and if the lid is not forced upward by drawing,

the fruit as shown in the the dealers who receive the fruit will think that the fruit has been'dried out iri transit, as a result of which drying out the lid has been permitt to close down on the 4? so as to close the gaps 25.

In Figure 2 is illustrated the splitting and warping which occurs in'the case of the wood veneer sheets now used in making the end and intermediate panels of the box. These anels comprise a rectangular frame 26 made of four strips morticed together at the t corners of the frame and of a wood veneer sheet 27. The objectionable warping and splitting of the wood veneer 27 is clearly illustrated in Figure 2. This warplng and splitting not only exposes the fruit to damage from the outside but also subjects the fruit adjacent the panel to scarring and bruising by the irregularly distorted and broken parts of the sheet as the box is shifted about'and jarred during its handling and shipment.

In Figures 3, 4 and 5 is illustrated the new fiberboard panel which is to be substituted for the old veneer panel. 28 indicates the frame which is the same or similar to the frames heretofore used. 29 indicates the sheet of fiberboard. These fiberboard sheets are beveled at one edge 30 which isused as the top edgeso that there may be no sharp corner presented at the top edge of the panel to bruise or mar the fruit. The sheets 29 are made at the plant and are then shipped flat with others'to the point of packing the fruit, where the wood frames 28 are made up and used in making the end panel 31, which is shown complete in Figure 4. The fiberboard sheet 29 is attached to the panel by means of nails 32. These end panels when made are much superior to the old veneer panels. They w ill not warp or split and they always present perfectly smooth surfaces against the fruit which comes in contact with the inner face of said panels.-

In'Figure 6 is shown an intermediate panel of the fiberboard type. This comprises a wood frame 33 similar to the frames 28 of the end anels and a fiberboard'blank 34. Said blank when made in its preferred form comprisesa length of blank 34 which includes sections 35 each substantially equal to the area of the frame 33'and an intermediate part 36 separated from the sections 35 b creases 37,- 37'. Said intermediate part is o a width equal to the thickness of the members constituting the frame. 33 and the blank by the fruit projects c0nsider %onstruction thus described is capable of eing applied to the frame 33 with the sections: 35, 35 nailed respectively to the opposite fa'cesofthe'frame'33 and with the intermediate section 36 enga edagainst one edge (the top edge) of the frame 33. The creases 37'present beveled edgesj37", 37 at I the top of the panel which'prevent sharp corners frombeing present in the neighborhood of the top'of the intermediate panel to bruise the fruit. f In Figure 8 a slightly modified form of the intermediate pane is shown. In this case two sheets 38, 38 of fiberboard of the area of the frame 33 are made. These sheets are formed with beveled edges 39 so that when applied and nailed to the opposite faces of the frame 33 there is presented an intermediate panel with beveled edges along its The'fiberboard end panels and intermediate panel maybe used with the ordinary wooden boxes, as shown in Figure 9 wherein a wooden'box with wooden bottom 39, wooden sides 40 and wooden cover or lid 41 is shown with the fiberboard end panels 31 and the fiberboard intermediate panel 33 In Figures 10 and 11 is shown a fiberboard cover or lid and the fiberboard sheet from which it is made. 42 indicates a fiberboard sheet, the main length of which 43 is of the length and width of the box to which the lid is to be applied. 44 indicate extensions which are separated from the main length 43 by creases 45. To form the lid, the extensions 44 are folded back upon the main length 43 of the blank as shown in Figure 11, and are held in that position by narrow, longitudinal, wood strips 46, each of the length of the box and lid. Said strips 46 are attached to the margins of the main length 43 of the blank by means of staples or otherwise with their ends lapping upon and holding down the folding extensions 44. The said fiberboard extensions 44 reinforce and strengthen the ,ends of the fiberboard cover thus made and the wood strips 46. reinforceand stiffen the lateral margins of the fiberboard lid which is indicated as a whole by the numeral 47.

In Figure 12 is shown-a box still having the old wood sides 48 and bottom 49 but being made with the fiberboard end panels 31 and intermediate panel 33 and with the fiberboard lid or cover 47 After the fruit has been pressed into the box in the manner heretofore described, the fiberboard lid or cover 47 may have its ends nailed to the end panels as illustrated, in the same manner as has heretofore been customary with the wool veneer lids. The wood strips 46 at the lateral margins of the fiberboard lid permit the lid to yield upwardly in the'neighborhood of the intermediate panel 33 so as to leave-the desired gaps exposing the fruit, as illustrated in Figures 12, 13 and 14; and the stifiening in the lateral margins of the fiberboard lid provided by said strips permit this yielding without tearing or destroying the edges of the fiberboard sheet included in the lid. The reinforcing extensions 44 on the lid give ample grip for the nails by means of which the ends of the fiberboard li-d are secured to the end panels.

In Figures to 18 inclusive is Shown the fiberboard body. This is made from a blank of fiberboard (Figure 15) which is cut and creased to provide a bottom section 51, two side sections 52, 52 and foldable flanges 53, 53,--said several sections being divided.

by creases 54 which are located between the several sections. The body blank is reinforced by means of narrow wood strips 55, 55 nailed upon the outside surface of the fiber sheet (the one opposite to that uppermost in Figure 15) along the nearer edges of the two intermediate creases and like wood strips 56, 56 en aged between the marginal parts of the si e sections 52 and the flange extensions 53, 53 which are folded back in the reverse direction to the crease as shown in Figure 16. The wood strips 55, 55 provide bottom rails to raise the box bottom from the floor or other surface on which the box rests. The wood strips 56 heavil reinforce the top lateral edges of the box ody. These features of the construction are illustrated in Figure 17 where the box body part is shown set up with thebottom section 51 horizontal and the two side sections 52, 52 in verticalposition.

The body fiberboard section may be shipped flat, folded by reason of the creases 54 in the manner shown in Figure 18. When shipped they may be without the wood strips which may be applied at the place of packing the box.

In Figure 19 is shown a box 57 in which all the parts are made of the fiberboard body 52*, the fiberboard end panels 31, the fiberboard intermediate panel 33 and the fiberboard lid or cover 42.

In forming the box the fiberboard body 52 is set up as shown in Figure 17 and the end panels and intermediate panels nailed thereto in an obvious manner. The box is then ready for packing. The fruit is packed therein as in the case of the wood boxes and the lid member 57 applied and nailed to the fiberboard end members 31. The ap between the lid and the top edges of t e sides is produced by the upward pressure of the fruit and is permitted by the structure of the box and its parts. The wood strips 56 at said edges give the top edges the necessary strength to prevent breaking or distortion at the top edge of the box.

The sides of the body member are provided with ventilating openings 58.

I claim as my invention:

A fiber board shipping case for citrus fruits and the like, comprising a body made from a blank of fiber board creased to provide the bottom and two sides of the case with extensions at, the ends of the blank folded back upon itself, longitudinally extending wood strips secured to the bottom section of the blank along its lateral margins, and wood strips secured between said extensions and the adjacent parts of said blank; end panels each comprising an open wood frame and a fiber board sheet beveled at its top edge and nailed to said frame, an intermediate panel comprising an open wood frame and a fiber board sheet folded to cover opposite faces of said frame andnailed thereto and a lid consisting of a fiber board sheet bent back upon itself at its ends and of wood strips extendin along and secured to the margins of sai blank with their ends engaged upon said folded extensions, said parts being all secured together in the manner described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention, I afiix my signature this 15 day of July, A. D. 1927.

HARRISON B. WALTER. 

